Located on MSP’s central campus, Manchester Inspired – Innovation Digital Enterprise Alliance (Mi-IDEA) will work with early-stage Northern businesses to help them develop innovative technologies and solutions.

It will focus on start-ups in the smart cities, Internet-of-Things (IoT), digital healthcare, and the digital creative sectors.

Mi-IDEA marks Cisco Create’s second site: a collaborative research programme which seeks to bring together industry partners, start-ups government, research institutions and universities to find technological solutions to “some of the most pressing real world challenges of today”.

The hub is Cisco’s second start-up focused innovation centre following the launch of IDEALondon in 2013 which is said to have raised more than £20m in funding and created 120 jobs.

The launch comes just days after Cisco was named the top European corporate brand for start-ups to work with in Nesta’s index of the Europe’s 25 Corporate Startup Stars. The company was recognised for its approach to targeting start-ups and scale-ups building disruptive technologies, alongside its focus on agility, business model and continuity.

“The city of Manchester has innovation in its DNA. Our investment in the city builds on our ongoing commitment to support new digital businesses and high-tech entrepreneurs across the UK. Mi-IDEA will be uniquely positioned to tap into local, national and international innovation ecosystems.”